Las Vegas Weekly

September 15, 2008 · 3:54 PM

Drescher’s personal crusade, Hilton’s star power boost NVCI fundraisers

By Robin Leach

Fran Drescher speaks at the Nevada Cancer Institute.

Photo: Nevada Cancer Institute

Actress Fran Drescher pulled no punches about her battle with cancer when she attended a book reading and autograph session of her Cancer Schamancer at the Nevada Cancer Institute HQ’d here. She toured the facility and greeted patients in the chemotherapy infusion suite. It was a standing-room-only crowd when she read from her best selling book. The Nanny star admitted she’d struggled for two years and met with eight doctors before getting an accurate diagnosis. “ he Nevada Cancer Institute should be the model for what other cancer institutes should be throughout the country. You must be proactive about your health with screenings and opportunities for early detection. I got famous. I got cancer and I lived to talk about it -- so I’m talking.”

Our photos show Fran with Dr. Nichols Vogetzang, director of NVCI, and Shelley Gitomer, NVCI VP of development. Fran has been recently named a public diplomacy envoy to work with health organizations and women’s groups to raise awareness of women’s health issues and cancer awareness and detection.

Fran’s visit was followed up by Paris Hilton’s appearance at the fifth annual Summer’s End Beach Party at Joan and Jim Hammer’s home to raise funds for NVCI. Paris gave it the magic touch this weekend during her visit to Vegas because more than $1.5 million was raised, plus another $20 million gift from the Engelstad Family Foundation to fund a new cancer research building now under construction. She went onstage and encouraged partygoers “to open your hearts and wallets and give generously. This is a cause very close to my heart.” She said: “Everyone has been touched by cancer in one way or another -- my own Grandmother battled breast cancer.” It was her second NVCI fundraiser and the Engelstad Family donations now top the $35 million total given to-date!

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